Chapter 71

I shouldn't have done it.

I should have let it end at the chai stall.

Should have walked away, ignored his number, and pretended this never happened.

But instead—

I pulled out my phone.

And before I could stop myself—

I typed a message.

Mehul: Tomorrow. 7 PM. The same place.

I stared at the screen.

Frowned.

Then—**before I could think too much about it—**I hit send.

And immediately regretted all my life choices.

Because what was I doing?

Why was I the one texting first?

Vihaan should have been the one begging to meet up.

Not me.

Not the guy who had spent years avoiding him.

Not the guy who had spent years convincing himself that Vihaan Malhotra was just another person at work.

I groaned.

Considered deleting my entire existence.

Then—my phone buzzed.

Vihaan: Whoa. So formal. No "hey" or "how are you?" Just straight to business, huh? 😏

I stared.

Then—another message.

Vihaan: So bossy. I like it.

…WHAT.

I clenched my jaw.

Debated throwing my phone out the window.

Then—another message.

Vihaan: See you there, then. Don't be late.

I inhaled slowly.

Turned off my phone.

And sat in complete regret.

Because I had just started something.

Something I wasn't sure I could stop.